In 1954 Parliament authorized the creation of a new pattern of British television services, additional to those of the British Broadcasting Corporation. Unlike the BBC, however, Independent Television (popularly termed ITV) is paid for by the sale of advertising time; no income is received from licence fees or other public funds. The Independent Broadcasting Authority (IBA) [then the Independent Television Authority] was created to provide these public television services of information, education and entertainment throughout the United Kingdom, the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands.

The Independent Broadcasting Authority Act 1973, which sets out the basic principles for Independent Television, contains many provisions about programmes, advertising and other important matters. The central responsibility for administering the Act is placed on the Independent Broadcasting Authority, appointed by the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications.

The Authority comprises a Chairman, a Deputy Chairman and nine Members. Three of the Members have as their special care the interests of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The present Chairman is the Rt. Hon. Lord Aylestone, CBE, appointed on 1st September 1967.

The Authority is aided by advisory committees. In addition to the General Advisory Council and the Scottish, Northern Ireland and Welsh Committees, the following deal with specific subjects: the Advertising Advisory Committee and the Medical Advisory Panel; the Central and the Scottish Appeals Advisory Committees; the Central Religious Advisory Committee and the Panel of Religious Advisers; and the Educational Advisory Council, the Schools Committee, and the Adult Education Committee. The Complaints Review Board investigates complaints from the public or from persons appearing in programmes about the content of programmes transmitted or the preparation of programmes for transmission.

The staff of the IBA, led by its Director General (Brian Young), totals about 1,270, of whom about 750 are administrative and technical staff at the London headquarters and at Crawley near Winchester, 435 engineers and others at the transmitters, and 85 regional staff.

From July 1972 Parliament extended the functions of the IBA (formerly the Independent Television Authority) so as to include the provision of local sound broadcasting services financed by advertising.

Within the terms of the Independent Broadcasting Authority Act the IBA decides the general pattern of Independent Television and performs four main functions:

1. The IBA selects and appoints the programme companies

The IBA does not itself produce programmes. Fifteen separate programme companies are under contract with the IBA to provide the programme service in fourteen areas (London is served by two companies, one for weekdays and one for weekends). The companies obtain their revenue from the sale of advertising time in their own areas. They pay a rental to cover the costs of the IBA in administering the system and in operating its national network of transmitters. In addition to normal company taxes the programme companies must pay an Exchequer Levy related to their revenues. National and international news bulletins are provided by Independent Television News Limited (ITN), owned by all the programme companies.

2. The IBA supervises the programme planning

Although the creative content of the programmes is the concern of the individual programme companies, the IBA ensures that the output of each company is of high quality and provides a proper balance of information, education and entertainment. Each company must draw up its programme schedule in consultation with the IBA, which may require alterations before it is approved for transmission. The IBA also requires specific periods of time to be allocated to special classes of programmes such as education, religion, news, documentaries, and programmes serving local tastes and interests. The IBA must also ensure, so far as possible, accuracy in news, impartiality in matters of controversy, and the maintenance of good taste; and for these purposes may call for detailed advance information about specific programmes or for previews before their transmission.

Independent Television has made a major contribution to the emergence of television as a main form of relaxation, a main source of information and a growing medium of education. Not least, Independent Television, by its federal structure, has brought a strong regional element into British television: a regional identification and a regional vitality. Its programmes attract over 50 per cent of the viewing audience. This has been achieved, moreover, solely on revenue from advertising. No part of the licence fee comes to Independent Television. Indeed, the Exchequer draws substantial sums from the industry, not only in normal taxation but also in special levies.

Since the withdrawal of Government controls over the hours of broadcasting the total programme output has increased considerably. Allowing for variations in programme patterns between regions, the following diagram gives a broad indication of the general balance of programmes presented to Independent Television viewers:

3. The IBA controls the advertising

The frequency, amount and nature of the advertisements must be in accordance with the Independent Broadcasting Authority Act and the extensive rules and principles laid down by the IBA. No programmes are sponsored by advertisers: there must be a total distinction between programmes and advertisements. Advertising is limited to six minutes an hour, averaged over the day’s programmes, with normally a maximum of seven minutes in any single ‘clock-hour’ (e.g. 6-7 p.m., 7-8 p.m.).

4. The IBA transmits the programmes

The IBA builds, owns and operates all transmitters radiating ITV programmes, allocating transmitters to carry programmes presented by the various programme companies. The UHF network provides colour/black-and-white pictures on 625 lines. At the end of 1973, over 100 UHF stations cover more than 93% of the population; a further 45 UHF stations are due to open by about the end of 1974. The VHF network of 47 transmitters provides black-and-white pictures on 405 lines covering 98∙7% of the population. The 405-line VHF monochrome services are likely to continue at least until 1980 and possibly to 1985.

IBA Television Transmission Areas

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15 Programme Companies

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and ITN, Independent Television News Ltd, jointly owned by all the programme companies to provide national and international news